MILWAUKEE — It’s no secret that Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey is playing a ton of minutes in the 2025-26 season. Through 22 games, he’s averaging 39.9 minutes per night as he is shouldering a heavy load in Philadelphia on the offensive end after playing 37 in Friday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Despite the heavy load, Maxey is playing at an MVP level averaging 31.6 points, 7.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while shooting 46.7% from the floor and 38.2% from deep. He’s been phenomenal and playing at such a high level that even former coach Doc Rivers maybe didn’t see coming.
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With that being said, now the coach of the Bucks, Rivers gave his praise to Maxey amid all of the minutes he’s had to play.
“He can handle it,” Rivers said. “Obviously, there’s a breaking point with the minutes stuff, but he’s been working with my son Spencer (Rivers) since he’s been in the NBA. He still calls to work with him. In the summers, he’s going three times a day at times. I’m talking early summer, so his work ethic, his motor, I mean, last night, the block that he had at the end of that game was phenomenal.”
Of course, Rivers is referring to the mind-blowing game-winning block Maxey had to clinch the win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday before the matchup with the Bucks. A player has to be in peak condition to make a play like that.
“It was a heads-up play by Golden State, and then it was an even better play by Tyrese, and that’s conditioning, too,” Rivers added. “If you’re tired mentally or physically, you can’t make that play.”
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Eventually, the Sixers will have to limit his minutes, but it’s obvious that Maxey is in peak physical condition to handle all of that. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to score 35 points to beat Rivers and the Bucks on Friday. A cool 12 points was enough when considering how much the rest of the roster contributed.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Bucks coach Doc Rivers gives thoughts on 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey’s minutes